Burnaby mayor proposes task force to ‘immediately’ address housing crisis
Posted December 9, 2018 9:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – After running on a platform of stopping renovictions and improving housing affordability, Mayor Mike Hurley is recommending creating a new committee to find solutions to Burnaby’s housing issues.
The Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing would examine the current housing situation in the city, and come up with recommendations for how to increase the housing supply and affordability, and protect existing rental stock.
City council will discuss the proposal at a city council meeting Monday. The task force would include housing advocates, local unions, co-operative housing organizations, as well as developers and builders.
“Many of Burnaby’s citizens are experiencing significant challenges related to housing affordability that range from the high cost of housing, the low supply of affordable market and non-market rental housing, the lack of supply of a full-range of housing alternatives, the lack of supportive housing options and the challenge of reducing homelessness,” reads a staff report.
“To address the broad issue of housing affordability and the specific issues facing Burnaby, it is necessary to immediately convene a Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing to review and advise Council on identified issues, priorities, and actionable solutions.”
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The task force would come back with some preliminary recommendations after three months and a final report after six.
Coun. Pietro Calendino would chair the task force, Hurley would act as vice chair, and Coun. Sav Dhaliwal would be a member.
If approved, the task force would meet every other Wednesday starting January 9, 2019.
